Seize The Day: An Observer's Guide To Watching A Tonic-Clonic Seizure

Grab the popcorn: You're in for quite a show.

Hi! I have tonic-clonic (grand mal) seizures, and I'm here to share this handy guide on what to do if you see me (or any of of my fellow seizers) have one!

Sometimes before a seizure, I can feel it coming on a few seconds before, and this feeling is called an aura. This lets me tell people it’s going to happen before I become unconscious.

Disclaimer: I don't actually see the Grim.

Other times, I have no warning, so I may suddenly become incoherent.

I might say something completely out of nowhere,

Or just fall to the ground.

Whether I’m able to give a warning or not, the first thing to do when it becomes clear that I’m going to have a seizure is to lie me down on my side immediately, as I could fall/pass out at any moment. If I'm already on the ground, I still need to be turned on my side. This will help me breathe.

Next, clear the area around me as much as possible, including furniture and anything else I could injure myself on while convulsing.

In a tonic-clonic seizure, I have convulsions, where my body shakes violently and involuntarily.

As frustrating as it feels, there's nothing you can do while I'm having the seizure to help or stop it - you just have to let it run its course and wait it out. But, there are some do’s and don’ts to keep in mind while it’s happening.

Do: Time the convulsions - not the whole seizure, just the part where I’m thrashing around.

Don't: Try to hold me still or wake me up.

Do: Cushion my head, if you can do so without interfering with the convulsions.

Rabbit not necessary but encouraged.

Don't: Put anything in my mouth, and that includes CPR.

If me telling you isn't convincing enough, I'll just casually let you know that you could lose fingers if you ignore this.

I realize that it can be scary to watch, but remember that for me, this has happened countless times, is normal and that there’s no need to panic.

There are only two circumstances under which an ambulance needs to be called: 1) If if the convulsions last longer than 4 minutes.

And 2) If I hit my head or injure myself another way severely enough that I need medical attention.

If I've been impaled, I'm almost definitely more concerned about the impaling than the seizure.

It might take a minute or two for me to become responsive, but that's normal.

Please bring me back to earth gently.

Personal bubbles: still important, guys.

I might be freaked out when I first regain consciousness, because I won't have my full cognitive abilities right away.

I'll be really confused, and I might not recognize you.

Or know who I am.

Or what I was doing there.

I might be really emotional.

So just try to be patient, and keep me calm and reassured as best you can.

Afterwards, I will be very tired, and will spend at least the rest of the day, and possibly the next, resting.

And there you have it! You are ready for any of your friends to seize to their heart’s content.

Thanks for reading!